The USA

Shop

Get even more with a Lonely Planet guide.

Shop Book
Meadows in North Cascades National Park, Winthrop, Washington.

Overview

The great American experience is about so many things: bluegrass and beaches, snow-covered peaks and redwood forests, restaurant-loving cities and big open skies, and that's just for starters.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • Linn Cove Viaduct along Blue Ridge Parkway.

    Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    Southern USA

    The story of the Smoky Mountains began in primordial times when clashing supersized continents created a chain of mountains that are today among the…

  • A family of goats near Gunsight Pass in Glacier National Park

    Glacier National Park

    Montana

    The rival of any of the United States' most spectacular national parks, including Yellowstone, Yosemite and the Grand Canyon, Glacier National Park is…

  • October 9, 2014: Visitors gather at Glacier Point with the Half Dome mountain in the background.

    Yosemite National Park

    Yosemite & the Sierra Nevada

    Yosemite means "killer" in the Indigenous Miwok language, and in today's parlance it's indeed an impressive, awesome site. Everywhere you look in Yosemite…

  • An aerial view of Golden Gate Park from the Pacific Ocean. Golden Gate Park is the third most visited city park in the US.

    Golden Gate Park

    San Francisco

    When Frederick Law Olmsted, architect of New York's Central Park, gazed in 1865 upon the plot of land San Francisco Mayor Frank McCoppin wanted to turn…

  • OCTOBER 2015: Visitors paddle in boats near a bridge at Central Park..

    Central Park

    Upper West Side & Central Park

    One of the world’s most renowned green spaces, Central Park comprises 843 acres of rolling meadows, boulder-studded outcroppings, elm-lined walkways,…

  • LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - AUGUST 28: An exterior view shows the marquee at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino left of the Leo the Lion statue on the Las Vegas Strip amid the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) on August 28, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. MGM Resorts International will lay off 18,000 furloughed employees in the United States on Monday as the resort industry struggles to recover from the pandemic. The move was necessary since federal law requires companies to lay off furloughed workers after six months. Before hotel-casinos shut down in March, the company had 68,000 employees nationwide, including 52,000 in Las Vegas. MGM Resorts said laid-off employees could be brought back as business demand returns. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

    MGM Grand

    Las Vegas

    Owned by the eponymous Hollywood studio, the MGM Grand casino and hotel liberally borrows Tinsel Town's themes. Flashing LED screens and computerized…

  • Alcatraz Island in San Francisco, USA.

    Alcatraz

    The Marina, Fisherman’s Wharf & the Piers

    Alcatraz: for over 150 years, the name has given the innocent chills and the guilty cold sweats. Over the decades, it’s been a military prison, a…

  • The Capitol, Washington, DC

    US Capitol

    Washington, DC

    Since 1800, this is where the legislative branch of American government (ie Congress) has met to write the country's laws.

View more attractions

Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip

Best Things to Do

From national parks to road trips to beaches to vibrant cities, these are a few of the best things to do in the vast USA.

Read article

Best Places to Visit

Explore beautiful fall foliage then get cozy indoors at these top US places to visit in the autumn months.

Read article

Things to Know

From visas to planning advice to etiquette, safety and more, here are some essential things to know before you set off for the United States.

Read article

Transportation

Is train travel in the USA the fastest choice? Rarely. But the vistas of snowy mountains, expansive deserts and vibrant cities may convince you to try it.

Read article

Visa Requirements

Gaining entry into the USA can be tricky – even if you don’t need a visa (or don’t think you do). Our guide will help you navigate the process.

Read article

Traveling with Kids

From Disneyland to dinosaurs, here's how to visit the US with kids.

Read article

Best Road Trips

Road-tripping across the US is one of the most iconically American things you can do. Here are 10 of the best ways to do it.

Read article

Articles

Latest stories from The USA

Filter by interest:

ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 18: Members of the Baltimore All-Stars Marching Unit participate in the Juneteenth Atlanta Black History parade on June 18, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. Juneteenth, or Emancipation Day, commemorates the end of chattel slavery on June 19, 1865 in Galveston, Texas, in compliance with President Lincoln's 1863 Emancipation Proclamation. In 2021, U.S. President Joe Biden signed a law declaring Juneteenth a federal holiday. (Photo by Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images) 1241390025 bestof, topix Members of the Baltimore All-Stars Marching Unit participate in the Juneteenth Atlanta Black History parade on June 18, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. Juneteenth, or Emancipation Day, commemorates the end of chattel slavery on June 19, 1865 in Galveston, Texas, in compliance with President Lincoln's 1863 Emancipation Proclamation. In 2021, U.S. President Joe Biden signed a law declaring Juneteenth a federal holiday.

Shopping

Where to celebrate Juneteenth all over the USA

May 22, 2025 • 4 min read

Read more articles

Build a memorable collection

Get to the heart of The USA with one of our in-depth, award-winning guidebooks, covering maps, itineraries, and expert guidance.

in partnership with getyourguide

Book popular activities in The USA

Go Beyond

The USA and beyond

Beyond The USA